Location: Central Seattle/Eastlake
Address: 10th Ave. E. and E. Blaine St.
Acreage: approx. 1.0
A visit to the lovely Streissguth Gardens becomes even sweeter when you learn about its origin.
This north Capitol Hill park was privately owned and maintained for many years by Ann and Dan Streissguth. Nearly 50 years ago they lived independently on adjacent pieces of land and started their own gardens. They fell in love, got married and moved into one of the houses, and then they began to merge and grow their gardens.
Today the gardens are often considered part of the St. Marks Greenbelt, but this park’s carefully planted spaces make it feel very distinct.
Begin either at the top or bottom of the Blaine staircase and then follow one of the narrow paths that wind through this steep hillside garden. As you walk, you’ll find a wonderful variety of deciduous trees, flowering plants, perennials and even fruits and vegetables. I loved the strawberries nestled among the stepping stones.
This is a great space for gardeners to wander getting ideas for their own spaces. It’s also a fun spot for kids with lots of hiding places and secret nooks awaiting discovery.
Volunteers work to keep the gardens in beautiful condition year-round. The family’s web site provides fun background information and fabulous maps.
#419 (Visited 4/28/14)
I spent five months in Seattle last year and the Streissguth Gardens were a favorite find. I was, like most people looking for the stairs. I am a Master Gardener from Arkansas and was delighted by what flanked the Blaine stairs. I spent many hours here, marveling at perrennials that were over my head. You see, in AR we struggle with heat, drought, mosquitos, freezing temperatures, rocky soil, and more. This is an oasis in the city. When I return to Seattle, I will surely spend more time in the gardens. Thank you for this “gardener’s garden”.